Machine for mixing particulate materials



y 7, 3 c. E'. PHILLIPS 3,088,711

MACHINE FOR MIXING PARTICULATE MATERIALS Filed June 10, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1

ATTORNEY CHHELES E. PHIL/MP5 y 1963 c. E. PHILLIPS 3,088,711

MACHINE FOR MIXING PARTICULATE MATERIALS Filed June 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHGXZLES E. PHILLJPS ATTORNEY May 7, 1963 c. E. PHILLIPS MACHINE FOR MIXING PARTICULATE MATERIALS Filed Jun 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 9

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INVENTOR. CHARLES E. PHILLIPS 8W (Ki/W ATTOEN EY United States 3,088,711 MACHINE FOR MEXING PARTICULATE MATERIALS Charles E. Phillips, Downsville, Wis. Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,417 12 Claims. (Cl. 259-3) This invention relates to improvements in rotary drum type machines for mixing or blending particulate materials and particularly to a machine of this class for blending livestock feeds of differing particle sizes, density and other physical characteristics, in either dry or moist condition.

An object of my invention is to facilitate the loading of particulate materials into a rotary drum type mixer of large capacity by providing novel mechanism including scoop elements carried by the mixer and arranged to automatically load the mixer directly from a bin or pit extending beneath the drum, thereby eliminating the need for either manual labor in the feeding of the materials into the mixer or the use of mechanical conveyors or elevators for this purpose.

A further object is to provide in a rotary mixer of large capacity simplified and novel means for discharging the finished mixtures continuously at an elevation which facilitates controlled flow of the mixture into sacks while the mixing operation is continued.

Another object is to provide in a machine of the class described novel automatic means for cleanly and completely emptying the drum at the end of each batch mixing operation.

The invention also includes certain other features and details of construction Which will be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example and not for the purpose of limitation, one of my improved mixing machines:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective, somewhat schematic view of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one end portion of the rotary drum;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the drum and easing taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4, and showing two of the spiral mixing blades in side elevation;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the loading scoops and its housing;

FIG. 6 is an end view of one of the loading scoops;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the stationary hood for enclosing one end portion of the mixing drum;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the axis of the drum showing particularly the discharge chamber for conducting'the discharge material to sacks or upon a conveyor;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section on a larger scale taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 11, and 1 FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, my improved mixing machine has a large cylindrical drum 15 mounted to revolve about a horizontal axis and supported on a frame 16. Extending axially through the drum and projecting exteriorly of its end walls is a shaft 14 which is supported on the frame 16 in bearings 17 (FIG. 3). The shaft 14 is rigidly connected to the end walls by suitable spider members 14a.

A hood 18 encloses an end portion of the drum 15 and is formed with a top-inlet opening 19 and an end wall outlet port 20. A front end wall 21 of the drum 15 is formed with a plurality of discharge openings 22 (FIG. 2) adapted to be aligned successively with the port 20 as each opening 22 arrives approximately at its position of maximum elevation during the rotation of the drum. The drum is also formed with a series of elongated peripheral intake openings 23 near the end wall 21, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Extending beneath the drum 15 and openings 23 therein is a loading bin, indicated generally by the numeral 24, from which materials to be mixed may be conveyed into the drum through the openings 23. The bin has an approximately semicylindrical bottom Wall 25, preferably having a radius of curvature corresponding to that of the drum 15. This bin projects beneath a floor plate 26 at the front of the drum and the plate 26 is formed with a grill covered opening 27 into which the materials to be mixed may be fed to flow by gravity into the bin. A series ofscoops, indicated generally by the numeral 28, are pivotally supported within the drum on horizontal rods 29. Each scoop has a leading edge 30 adapted to slide along the arcuate wall 25 of the bin 24 to gather material into an opening 28a at the outer side of the scoop. There is also an opening 28b, at the inner side of the scoop from which the material is discharged as hereinafter described.

To prevent the loaded material from returning to the bin 24 through the openings 23, I enclose each of the scoops 28 in a housing which is indicated generally by the numeral 31 (FIGS. 4 and 5). This housing has an arcuate wall 31a connected to the end wall 21 of the drum and extending concentrically to the pivot rod 29, a Wall 31b extending in parallel relation to the end wall 21 of the drum and a wall 310 connecting the Wall 31b to the end wall 21 of the drum. An opening 32 in the wall 310 is adapted to be closed by a gravity operated outlet door 33 which is hingedly connected at 33a to the arcuate wall 31a.

Suitable power actuating means for the drum 15 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 and may comprise an electric motor 60 operatively connected through suitable speed reduction mechanism in a housing 61 to a sprocket chain and ring gear 62 (FIG. 3) fixed on the outer periphery of the tubular wall of the drum 15. The drum 15 may thereby be rotated at suitable speed, usually on the order of 2 to 5 r.p.m. in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4. The particulate materials to be mixed are merely dumped on the floor plate 26 so that they flow by gravityinto' the loading bin 24. As the drum rotates each of the several scoops 28 descends by gravity into the bin 24, as indicated in FIG. 4, so that the leading edge 30 of each slides along the arcuate fioor 25 of the bin and gathers the loose material into a scoop.

The 'floor 25 merges at its ends into the side walls of the hood IS- and the latter closes the openings 23 in the drum at-the upper half ofthe periphery except when these openings are in registry with the hood opening 19.

As each scoop is carried upwardly at the right side of the drum, FIG. 4, it is guided to its retracted position within the drum bythe arcuate floor 25. The contents of each loaded scoop are confined in its housing 3 1 [and carried around the upper periphery of the drum until the scoop reaches a position such as that indicated at the upper left of FIG. 4 when the door 33 of the housing swings open to discharge the contents of the scoop and housing into the main mixing chamber of the drum. Since the doors 33 are closed when the housings 31 are moving around the lower periphery of the drum, the

. loaded material cannot flow back into the bin 24 through the housings 31 and openings 23 in the drum. The drum is thereby progressively loaded as additional materials are picked up from the bin 24 until the drum is filled to capacity, if a capacity load is to be mixed. The filling may be continued until the level of material is substantially above the shaft 14. This loading mechanism is particularly adapted for use With mixing drums of large capacity, e.g., three to ten tons of particulate material. A drum, for example, eight feet in diameter and eight feet in length has been operated successfully to thoroughly blend batches of particulate material up to seven and onehalf tons each. Occasionally it may be desirable to feed some or all of the drum load through the top opening 19 in the hood 18. Rotation of the drum may be stopped with any one of the openings 23 in registry with the top inlet opening 19 in the hood when the material is to be fed into the drum through these openings.

A plurality of mixing blades are fixed on and project radially inward from the interior surface of the drum 15. These blades are preferably of the spiral form indicated in FIG. 3 wherein two of them are indicated by the numerals 34 and 35 respectively. They are angularly pitched and each blade preferably extends circumferentially of the drum approximately 180 degrees at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to planes perpendicular to the axis of the drum. As indicated in FIG. 4, there are four of these blades spaced equally around the periphery of the drum and each blade has its end adjacent to the drum wall 21 disposed to feed material into the leading open side of a discharge chute indicated generally at 36.

Mixture Discharging Means As best shown in FIGS. 3, and 11, each of the discharge chutes 36 has an oblique wall 37 adapted to direct material out through one of the end openings 22 in the drum wall 21. The chute is closed at its trailing side 38 and open at its leading side 39 to receive material to be discharged. Material is fed into the open side of the chute by a trailing end portion 40 of one of the mixing blades 34 or 35. The trailing end of the blade portion 40 may be welded or otherwise secured to the end Wall 21. Each of the openings 22 is normally closed by a flap 41 which extends on the outer surface of the drum wall 21 and is hingedly secured along its leading edge to the drum, being formed to open outwardly through the port 20 when the flap reaches a position in alignment with the port 20. The several flaps 41 are held in closed position against the end wall 21 of the drum by sliding contact with the inner surface of the hood 18 except when in registry with the port 20. The flaps 41 are preferably formed firom flexible, durable material such as 4-ply power transmission belting or brake lining farbric.

Discharge of material from the chutes 36 through the port 20 is under control of a door 42 which is hingedly supported on the hood 18 at the upper edge of the port 20. Each of the flaps 41 is adapted to be moved to open position by pressure of the material in its associated chute 36 when the flap is freed to flex outwardly by the opening of the door 42. This door 42 may be latched in either a closed position wherein it slidably engages the revolving flaps 41 or in an open position indicated in FIG. 9 by suitable connections with a manually operable lever 45. This lever is pivotally supported at 46 on the vertical wall of the hood 18 and is connected by linkage including a link member 47 and arm 48 to a shaft 43 upon which the door 42 is fixed.

Material which is discharged from the port 20 is received in a chamber 4-9 having an outlet opening 50 at its lower end. Manually operable lever 45 extends adjacent to one side of the chamber 49 and is guided for vertical oscillating movement by a bracket 51. Associated with the guide bracket 51 are detents 52 and 53 for selectively retaining the door 42 in either closed or open position.

As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 14 which supports the drum projects from its supporting bearing 17 through the chamber 49 and fixed on the projecting end of this shaft is a rotary agitator 54 adapted to remove material from a storage pocket having an arcuate wall 55 in the chamber 49. The agitator feeds the material into a chute 56 having the outlet opening 50 disposed to convey the material into sacks or to a conveyor or other receptacle. Discharge of material from the shute 56 is under control of a slide plate 57 adapted to be manually actuated to selected positions.

In operation, assuming that the drum 15 has been loaded and has been operated for a period of time sufficient to thoroughly blend the several ingredients of a mixture, the unloading operation may be started merely by actuating the hand lever 45 from its lower position to its upper position, the latter being shown in FIG. 9. This opens the door 42 to uncover the port 20 in the hood 18 and allow the flaps 41 to be swung outwardly to open position relative to the openings 22 as the latter successively reach positions in registry with port 20. Since the flaps 41 are secured to the drum along the leading edges of the respective openings 22, each flap is free to open during the time required for the passage of its trailing edge across the port 20.

Thus, when the door 42 is in open position, loose material previously collected in the successive chutes 36 flows by gravity down the inclined bottom Wall 37 of each chute as it reaches its position of maximum elevation or when its outlet opening 22 is in registry with the port 20 in the hood 18. Material is thus discharged by the successive chutes 36 into the chamber 49 and accumulates therein above the outlet control plate 57. The open top of each sack to be filled may be positioned around the outlet chute 56 during the sack filling operation while the rate of flow is controlled by the plate 57. Rotary agitator 54 continues to turn with the drum shaft 14 to feed the material into the outlet chute 56. Rotation of the drum may be continued until its entire load has been discharged to or through the chamber 49. The last remnants of material are picked up by the trailing ends of the blades 34 and 35 and are fed thereby into the chutes 36 to flow out through the openings 22 and port 20.

The number of loading scoops 2S, discharge chutes 36, mixing blades 34-35 and associated unit devices may be varied within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims. According to another modification of my invention the drum loading devices, including the bin 24, scoops 28 and housing 31 may be located at or near the end of the drum opposite to that from which the material is discharged through the chutes 36. With some types of particulate materials it may be desirable to provide for rotation of the drum in one direction during the loading operation and for rotation in the opposite direction during the unloading operation.

It will be evident that my improved drum loading and unloading means utilize the source of power for turning the drum to perform their respective functions automatically. Extensive tests and commercial operation have demonstrated the high efliciency and trouble-free operation of my invention as applied to rotary feed mixers of large capacity, e.g., from three to seven and one-half ton capacity. Since there are few moving parts in the drum the cost of maintenance is minimized.

I claim:

1. A machine for mixing particulate materials comprising, a drum mounted to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis and having a tubular wall and end walls, power actuated means for rotating said drum about said axis in a predetermined direction, a material receiving bin extending beneath said drum, said tubular wall being formed with an inlet opening, a loading scoop carried by said drum and movable from a retracted position within said drum to an extended position wherein said scoop projects through said opening into said bin for conveying material from said bin to the interior of said drum, means for guiding said scoop from its extended position to its retracted position, and a scoop housing fixed within said drum and disposed to enclose said scoop and prevent the return of loaded material from the drum to said bin through said inlet opening, said housing having an outlet opening disposed to discharge the contents of the scoop and housing into the drum.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which said scoop has a pivotal support disposed eccentrically to the axis of said drum for oscillating movement about an axis which is parallel to the axis of the drum, said scoop having side walls extending from said pivotal support rearwardly of the direction of rotation of the drum and a trailing end wall adapted to gather particulate material from said bin.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which said means for guiding said scoop from its extended position to its retracted position comprises an arcuate bottom Wall of said bin disposed for sliding engagement with the scoop.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 1 in which said scoop housing is provided with a closure for said outlet opening which is operative to close said opening when said housing is at elevations lower than the axis of the drum.

5. A machine for mixing particulate materials comprising, a drum mounted to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis and having a tubular wall and end walls, one of said end walls being a discharge end wall formed with a discharge opening disposed at one side of said axis, closure means for said opening, a fixed hood having a wall extending adjacent to the exterior surface of said discharge end wall and formed with a port positioned for alignment with said discharge opening when the latter is at a common elevation with said port during the rotation of the drum, said wall of the hood being disposed to retain said closure means in closed relation to said discharge opening when said opening is out of alignment with said port, a discharge chute carried by and projecting within said drum and disposed to direct material out through said discharge opening, said chute having an opening at its leading side in the direction of rotation of the drum to receive material, and a spirally disposed blade projecting from the tubular wall of the drum and disposed to direct material into said chute.

6. A machine according to claim 5 in which said discharge chute has an oblique wall extending from said tubular Wall to said discharge end wall of the drum and a second wall closing the trailing side of said chute.

7. A machine in accordance with claim 5 having a manually operable door for closing said port in the hood wall for controlling the discharge of material from said chute.

8. A machine in accordance with claim 7 in which said closure means comprises a flexible flap normally closing said discharge opening, connected to said end wall of the drum along the leading side of said opening and adapted to be held in closed position by said manually operable door and by sliding engagement with said hood wall, said flap being movable to open position under pressure of material in said chute when released by said manually operable door.

9. A machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said port is disposed at an elevation substantially above and eccentrically to said horizontal axis of the drum and including a chamber disposed to receive material discharged from said port, said chamber having an outlet disposed at an elevation adapted to facilitate the filling of sacks with said material, and means for controlling the flow of material from said outlet.

10. A machine in accordance with claim 9 having means for continuously agitating material in said chamber and for feeding material to said outlet.

11. A machine in accordance with claim 5 in which said discharge end wall of the drum is formed with a plurality of discharge openings disposed to register with said port in the hood wall successively and a plurality of said discharge chutes and blades in operative relation to the several discharge openings.

12.. A machine in accordance with claim 11 having a manually operable door selectively movable to and from closed position in relation to said port.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,959 Mason Mar. 5, 1935 2,187,601 Glaxner Jan. 16, 1940 2,848,198 Bill Aug. 19, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,347 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1939 

1. A MACHINE FOR MIXING PARTICULATE MATERILAS COMPRISING, A DRUM MOUNTED TO REVOLVE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS AND HAVING A TUBULAR WALL AND END WALLS, POWER ACTUATED MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM ABOUT SAID AXIS IN A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION, A MATERIAL RECEIVING BIN EXTENDING BENEATH SAID DRUM, SAID TUBULAR WALL BEING FORMED WITH AN INLET OPENING, A LOADING SCOOP CARRIED BY SAID DRUM AND MOVABLE FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAID DRUM TO AN EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN SAID SCOOP PROJECTS THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO SAID BIN FOR CONVEYING MATERIAL FROM SAID BIN TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID DRUM MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID SCOOP FROM ITS EXTENDED POSITION TO ITS RETRACTED POSITION, AND A SCOOP HOUSING FIXED WITHIN SAID DRUM AND DISPOSED TO ENCLOSE SAID SCOOP AND PREVENT THE RETURN OF LOADED MATERIAL FROM THE DRUM TO SAID BIN THROUGH SAID INLET OPENING, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING DISPOSED TO DISCHARGE THE CONTENTS OF THE SCOOP AND HOUSING INTO THE DRUM.
 5. A MACHINE FOR MIXING PARTICULATE MATERIALS COMPRISING, A DRUM MOUNTED TO REVOLVE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS AND HAVING A TUBULAR WALL AND END WALLS, ONE OF SAID END WALLS BEING A DISCHARGE END WALL FORMED WITH A DISCHARGE OPENING DISPOSED AT ONE SIDE OF SAID AXIS, CLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID OPENING, A FIXED HOOD HAVING A WALL EXTENDING ADJACENT TO THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID DISCHARGE END WALL AND FORMED WITH A PORT POSITIONED FOR ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING WHEN THE LATTER IS AT A COMMON ELEVATION WITH SAID PORT DURING THE ROTATION OF THE DRUM, SAID WALL OF THE HOOD BEING DISPOSED TO RETAIN SAID CLOSURE MEANS IN CLOSED RELATION TO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING WHEN SAID OPENING IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PORT, A DISCHARGE CHUTE CARRIED BY AND PROJECTING WITHIN SAID DRUM AND DISPOSED TO DIRECT MATERIAL OUT THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID CHUTE HAVING AN OPENING AT ITS LEADING SIDE IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM TO RECEIVE MATERIAL, AND A SPIRALLY DISPOSED BALDE PROJECTING FROM THE TUBULAR WALL OF THE DRUM AND DISPOSED TO DIRECT MATERIAL INTO SAID 